Spain to suspend U-20 match in Ceuta after government request due to political tensions

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) is set to suspend a men's under-20 match that was due to take place in Ceuta after the government requested it was moved due to safety concerns.

The Spain Under-20 team was scheduled to face Mexico U-20 on September 30. Sources with knowledge of the situation, who were not authorised to speak publicly, indicated that the Spanish interior ministry had contacted the RFEF to ask them to move the fixture, however, due to political tensions in the city.

Ceuta have played their second division games at the Alfonso Murube stadium in recent weeks but replacement venues for the youth national teams are being explored.

Ceuta has been the subject of fierce political debate across Spain due its migrant crisis, after an estimated 70,000 people entered from neighbouring Morocco by land and sea over two days in late July.

The Real Madrid team that faced Elche last week wore t-shirts in solidarity with the city -- with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate choosing not to fully participate.

Ceuta was then featured in the senior men's squad announcement video, using clips from Luis de la Fuente's recent visit. "This trophy tells where we have come from and these players will decide where we go, the journey continues here -- this is Ceuta, this is Spain," the head coach said.

The u-20 fixture being moved is the latest development in the political tensions entering the football world. Left-wing party Sumar, a junior partner in Spain's minority coalition government, has called on the country's FA to refuse to co-host the 2030 men's World Cup finals with Morocco (Portugal is its third co-host).

The Athletic have contacted the RFEF and the interior ministry for comment.